My partner and I rescued a betta fish named Nico in June 2023. He is sweet, curious, and full of personality. We took every precaution necessary to make sure his transition from a small enclosure to a 10 gallon tank would ensure a long and happy life. But we didn't know that Betta Beads--a product sold by Aqueon that is advertised as enriching and helpful to maintaining a healthy aquarium--would almost take his life.

Nico's previous caretaker kept him in a small enclosure full of Betta Beads. When I transitioned him to his new, larger tank with gravel, a trace amount of beads fell inside--I thought nothing of it as he lived with the beads for so long without them having caused an issue.

Until one day, he swallowed one.

Betta Beads grow and shrink in the tank, depending on water conditions. Nico spotted a small one and after he swallowed it, it began to expand in his little stomach. Nico displayed signs of distress and I contacted a betta fish sanctuary as well as a veterinarian for help. Before the bead was visible in Nico's body, he presented as being constipated and suffering from water quality issues. My partner and I treated his tank accordingly, hoping it would help. Nico was losing his color rapidly and resting more than usual.

Some days after we first noticed his illness, the Betta Bead started to make its way out of poor Nico. Pictured is him with the Betta Bead protruding from his body. Shortly after the bead became visible, my partner and I watched Nico pass the bead, frightened that he was in pain and would die soon afterwards. 

Miraculously, Nico survived--but we are still monitoring him and making sure that his water quality and conditions are optimal for his recovery. After expressing our concerns about him in a Facebook group for betta fish enthusiasts, we learned that Betta Beads didn't just cause problems for Nico. Members of the group reported that their own fish were not as lucky as ours was--after they ingested a bead, it grew inside of them until organ failure occurred. These fish passed slowly and painfully. I found numerous reviews of Betta Beads on retailer websites, cautioning people to not buy them because they may result in death.

While I was unaware that these small beads from Nico's previous tank were in fact Betta Beads and I did not have access to instructions for them as a result, human error is not the cause of poor Nico's suffering. Betta caretakers have purchased Betta Beads, followed the instructions on the package, and their fish still met a painful, unnecessary end. Tank decorations that a fish may ingest, which fluctuate in size, are dangerous without a doubt. There is no warning on packaging for Betta Beads that fish may die in the event that the product is eaten. Even if such a warning was listed on the packaging, a fish can eat a Betta Bead in a single moment, and the only way for a fish caretaker to avoid this occurrence is by not purchasing Betta Beads. There is no safe way to sell an unsafe product.

Aqueon must stop creating Betta Beads. Bettas are naturally curious fish who occasionally eat things that they shouldn't. Betta Beads cause extreme discomfort when ingested and in most cases, lead to death. 

Betta fish are already mistreated and hugely misunderstood as is--we don't need any more products on the market which are advertised as good for them, but which lead to death and prolonged suffering. Aqueon, please stop selling products that have led to the deaths of countless fish.

*In addition to signing and sharing this petition, you can call Aqueon and retailers who carry Betta Beads (such as Chewy, Petco, and Walmart), and ask for them to pull it from their shelves!

Aqueon Customer Support: 888-255-4527 (This is the manufacturer)

Aqueon Customer Support Contact Us Web Form

Chewy Customer Support: 1 (800) 672-4399

Petco Customer Support: 877-738-6742

Walmart Customer Support: 1 (800) 925-6278 (Walmart Support will ask about which store you are calling about. Simply give them information for your local Walmart location, and let the operator know that you are concerned about Betta Beads being sold in-store and online)